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Adalaj Vav or Adalaj Stepwell was built in 1499 by queen Rudadevi also known as Rani Roopba in memory of her husband Rana Veer Singh.

As per the local legend in the late 15th century, Rana Veer Singh ruled over Dandai Desh and his kingdom always faced water shortage and was totally dependent on rains. Rana ordered the construction of a large and deep well but died in battle with Mohammed Begda the neighbouring Muslim ruler. Mohammed Begda stopped Rudadevi from becoming a sati and told her that he wanted to marry her. Rudadevi agreed to marry him only after he completed the construction of the stepwell. On completion of the step well Rudadevi came to offer her prayers and first circumambulated the stepwell and thereafter jumped into it to be one with her husband. Legend further narrates Rani Roopba had requested religious saints to perform rituals after her death as well as take bath in this stepwell so that the water in the stepwell gets purified reliving her from her sins.

Adalaj Vav or Adalaj Stepwell is just a short drive away from Ahmedabad cit as it is at a distance of about 20 km from Ahmedabad.

Adalaj Vav or Adalaj Stepwell located about 20 km from Ahmedabad is a stricking example in a way reflects that period of fine Jain symbols as well as Indo-Islamic architecture.

Villagers would come here to fill water and offer prayers to the deities and the step well was also frequented by pilgrims and traders.

If you were to ever visit Adalaj Vav you will notice that the temperature is much cooler inside than outside and that is due to its octagonal ceiling allowing very little sunlight to enter in.

How to reach Adalaj Step Well near Ahmedabad by flight?
The nearest airport to Adalaj Step Well is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport at Ahmedabad which is at a distance of about 15 km from Adalaj Step Well.

How to reach Adalaj Step Well near Ahmedabad by train
Ahmedabad Junction is at a distance of about 20 km from Adalaj Step Well. Ahmedabad Railway Station or Junction is well connected to many cities in the state of Gujarat as well as India.

Sabarmati Ashram is national monumnet - also known as Satyagraha Ashram as this is the base from where Gandhiji led the Dandi march or his Salt Satyagraha on 12 March 1930. Sabarmati Ashram is at distance of about 7.5 km from Ahmedabad Airport.

As per wikipedia - The Sabarmati ashram is located between a prison and a crematorium, and Gandhiji believed that a satyagrahi lands up in either of those places.

Gandhiji enlightening words furhter corroborated his belief, 'This is the right place for our activities to carry on the search for truth and develop fearlessness, for on one side are the iron bolts of the foreigners, and on the other the thunderbolts of Mother Nature.'

Sarkhej was once a prominent centre of Sufi culture in the country and Sarkhej Roza was once a highly revered mosque and a tomb complex.

It also has the mausoleum of Shaikh Ahmed Khattu Ganj Bakhsh of Patan a saint revered by Ahmed Shah I.

Sarkhej Roza is at distance of about 20 km km from Ahmedabad Airport.

Sarkhej Roza Complex has many royal tombs which are decorated with a fusion of architectural principles that seem to be both Indian principles of architecture as well as early Islamic style influences from Persia.

Sarkhej Roza is at distance of about 20 km from Ahmedabad Airport.

The Hutheesing Jain temple's as described by Yatin Pandya, Architect and Historian in an article in DNA - is designed with a spatial sequence and architectural resolution - so devotees could converse one to one with the divine.

The pradikshana path or passage is created by a collonade and has a niche punctuating each inter-columnation that has tirthankara idols and whose presence throughout the journey helps conditioning the mind. The ascending journey after the pradakshina with rising shikhara profiles, religious inscriptions and decreased intensity of light creates an exalting journey into an individual perceptive experience.

The temple is also noteworthy for its traditional practices of rain water harvesting which has been kept alive till date.

Hutheesing Jain Temple is at distance of about 7 km km from Ahmedabad Airport.

Hutheesing Temple is a Jain temple with its principal deity being Jina Dharmanatha the fifteenth Tirthankar, Sheth Hutheesing Kesri a wealthy trader from Ahmedabad started building this temple and upon his death it was completed by his wife Harkunvar Shethani in 1847. Hutheesing Jain Temple is at distance of about 7 km km from Ahmedabad Airport.

The temple's craftsman built it in troubled times - there was a famine in gujarat then and about 100+ craftsman earned a living whilst carving the exquisite  jharokhas, chhajas and its jaalis.

Hutheesing Temple also has a six storey tall 'Manastambha'- which should be interpreted as pillar of respect rather than pride - it has enshrined footsteps and idol of Jina Mahavir in commemoration of  two and a half millennium of his birth anniversary.

Ornate and magnificent Rani Ki Vav was built in the early 11th century, by Queen Udayamati. It was once flooded by the Saraswati river and was re-discovered in the 20th century.

Be it walls or balustrade, columns or arches every single inch is covered in exquisite carvings devoted to Hindu god Vishnu and his many avatars. It almost seems to have been designed as an inverted temple highlighting the reverence of water, divided in seven levels with ethereal sculptural panels of mythological imagery.

Rani Ki Vav is located in Patan which is at a distance of about 121 km from Ahmedabad and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Rani ki Vav is situated in Patan a few hours drive from Ahmedabad, Gujarat in India.

How to reach Rani ki Vav by flight?
The nearest airport to Rani ki Vav is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport at Ahmedabad which is at a distance of about 125 km from Rani ki Vav.

How to reach Rani ki Vav in Patan by train?
Patan Railway Station is connected to Ahmedabad and other cities of Gujarat. Patan Railway Station is at a distance of about 3 km from Rani ki Vav.

Gir Forest in Saurashtra, Gujarat, India was declared a sanctuary for Asiatic Lion conservation in 1965. Lions inhabit in the two hill systems of Gir and Girnar that comprise Gujarat's largest tracts of tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, thorny forest and savanna, and provide valuable habitat for a diverse flora and fauna. Five protected areas currently exist to protect the Asiatic Lion - Gir Sanctuary, Gir National Park, Pania Sanctuary, Mitiyala Sanctuary, and Girnar Sanctuary. 

Gir and Girnar - once part of a major forest ecosystem are now isolated from each other, and Girnar was recognized as a separate forest in 1980. Deciduous and rich in teak, the forest lies within the enclosure of Girnar’s peaks. How to reach Gir National Park?

The carnivores of Gir include - Asiatic Lion, Indian Leopard, Striped Hyena, Golden Jackal, Bengal fox, Indian Gray Mongoose, Ruddy mongoose, Honey Badger. Asiatic Wildcat, Rusty-spotted Cat…

Critical to note that the Asiatic lion is a big cat, and lion subspecies that can only be found in Gujarat, India. Other big cats that inhabit India include the Clouded Leopard, Snow Leopard, Indian Leopard and Bengal Tiger. 

The herbivores of Gir include - Chital, Nilgai, Sambar, Chinkara, Wild Boar, Blackbucks…

The reptiles at Gir include - Mugger Crocodile, Indian Cobra, Tortoise, Monitor Lizard, Python, Snakes…

Gir has diverse avifauna - almost 300+ species of birds and most are resident - Birds include scavengers like Vultures, Crested Serpent Eagle, Endangered Bonelli's Eagle, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, plus Brown Fish Owl, Indian Eagle-Owl, Rock Bush-Quail, Indian Peafowl, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Black-headed Oriole, Crested Treeswift, Indian Pitta…

The Asiatic lion is surviving today - only in India - and now its range is restricted to Gir National Park and the surrounding areas in the Indian state of Gujarat. Asiatic Lion is one of the five pantherine cats native to India, along with the Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Clouded leopard. Asiatic Lion is also known as the Indian Lion or the Persian Lion.

The Lions in Gir National Park are active at twilight and by night and their diet predominantly is Chital (Axis axis), Sambar deer, Nilgai, Water Buffalo, Wild Boar… They usually hunt and kill most prey less than 100 m away from water bodies, once killed they drag carcasses into dense cover. Asiatic Lions even prey on mugger crocodiles during dry and hot months. How to reach Gir National Park?

As per WWF - Lions are the only known cat species where individuals roar together - with even young cubs joining in with their mews. The calling sequence usually lasts about 40 seconds.  Prides often roar together to mark their territory - a roar can be heard from 5 miles away. 

Lions have strong, compact bodies and powerful forelegs, teeth and jaws for pulling down and killing prey. Their coats are yellow-gold, and adult males have shaggy manes that range in color from blond to reddish-brown to black. The length and color of a lion's mane is likely determined by age, genetics and hormones. Young lions have light spotting on their coats that disappears as they grow. Without their coats, lion and tiger bodies are so similar that only experts can tell them apart.

Lions are social felines and are the only cats that live in groups, called prides. A pride may comprise of 3 to 40 individuals, including adults, sub-adults (between the ages of 2 and 4) and cubs, plus one or more resident males. Significant factor regarding the size of the pride is its dependence on the abundance of prey availability in that habitat. 

Females usually stay in their mothers' prides for life, unless food scarcity forces them out. Usually all the lionesses in the pride are related - mothers, daughters, grandmothers, and sisters. Young males eventually leave or may be evicted and may establish their own prides by taking over a group headed by another male. In India, female and male Asiatic Lions mostly live apart, joining only to mate. How to reach Gir National Park?

Both male and female Lions mark their territories either by roaring - which can be heard up to five miles away - and scent marking with urine. 

Females raise the cubs and are the primary hunters, although males will sometimes join females during a hunt. Depending on the prey, several lions may stalk prey from different angles before attacking the targeted animal. Nomadic males usually hunt alone or scavenge from other animals.

The Asiatic Lion is a species of mighty and powerful large felines - but they are born in diminutive size as the lioness gestation periods are very brief - about 100 and 120 days. Just out a womb, the tiny lion cubs weight usually in the range of 2 and 4 pounds. The young cubs begin their lives without vision and don’t open their eyes for about 11 days.

Many animal species are capable of walking almost immediately after birth - foals (horses) walk around approximately within 30 minutes of their birth - Tiny lion cubs are able to walk when they are about 15 days old - and start running only when they are about 30 days old… How to reach Gir National Park?

Young Asiatic Lions or cubs grow up in prides with between 3 and 40 other felines. Female cubs stay with the group as they age and usually live with the pride for life and at around two years old, they become capable hunters.

Male Lions often leave when they’re a few years old. May form bachelor groups with other males - and follow migrating herds until they are strong enough to challenge male lions of other prides. 

Blackbucks inhabit grassy plains and lightly forested parts of the Gir National Park. These fleet-footed animals are herbivores and graze on low grasses in areas with perennial water sources.

Did you know - Blackbucks with pointed and delicate hooves are fast runners, and can outrun most predators… Blackbucks are extremely cautious as they lack strong sense of smell or hearing - but they have good eyesight thus can detect danger and react on time. 

The elegant Blackbucks or the Indian Antelopes are usually found in groups and are active mainly during the day - Blackbucks are social animals and the size of their group is directly dependent on availability of food and known to reduce in summer - Natural calamities have a drastic effect on the Blackbuck population as they get severely affected by floods and droughts and take a few years to recover. Blackbucks are herbivores and are known to feed apart from grass on fruits, flowers, herbs, shrubs… How to reach Gir National Park?

Males are darker and heavier than the females and both of them have white under parts including the insides of the legs and a distinctive white fur on the chin and around the eyes. Coloration of Blackbucks depends on the gender, the back, the sides and the outer side of the legs are rich dark brown to black in males and yellowish fawn to tan in females and juveniles. The long, ringed horns, that resemble corkscrews, are present only on males, though females may develop horns, as well.

The Indian Leopard is one of the big cats found in Gir National Park, Gujarat, India - though smallest in size when compared to the Asiatic Lion, Bengal Tiger, Snow Leopard and Clouded Leopard.

The Leopard is an elusive, solitary animal - and being nocturnal they hunt at night. Leopards spend most of their resting time on top of trees and are known for their ability of climbing trees as well as dragging its prey up the tree  to hide it from scavengers like vultures, hyenas and pack hunters like dholes. How to reach Gir National Park?

Leopard are known to be opportunistic hunters with a broad diet. They are able to hunt and kill prey like axis deer, sambar deer, nilgai, wild boar, common langur, Indian hare and peafowl as they have a massive skull and powerful jaw muscles. Being extremely agile creatures they are notoriously known for picking up the dreaded feral dogs around forest areas. 

Leopards are powerful swimmers and very agile runners and are known to take stunningly large horizontal as well as vertical leaps. Leopards produce many vocalizations, including grunts, roars, growls, meows, and purrs.

Graceful Chitals eclipse even the stately looking sambar - found in dense deciduous or semi-evergreen forests and open grasslands of Gir National Park, Gujarat, India. The name Chital is derived from the Sanskrit word cītrala (चित्रलः), meaning  spotted. Interesting to note is that the name of the Cheetah has a similar origin.

Chitals are distinctly sexually dimorphic - males are larger than females and antlers are present only on males. The upper parts are golden to rufous, completely covered in white spots. They have white fur on their abdomen, rump, throat, insides of legs, ears, and on the inner side of their tails. How to reach Gir National Park?

Grazers as well as browsers, the Chital mainly feed on sprouting grass, shrubs and fruit throughout the year. Browse forms a major portion of the diet (herbs, shrubs, foliage, fruits) only in the winter - that is between November to January - when the grasses are dried up and no longer palatable. Males at times are  seen standing on their hind legs to browse on the foliage of trees. 

They are active throughout the day - foraging begins before sunrise and peaks by early morning - when the temperature rises around midday, the animals rest or loiter about slowly. Foraging recommences by late afternoon and continues till midnight. They fall asleep a few hours before sunrise, typically in the forest which is cooler than the glades. Chitals forage in groups - and approach water holes twice in a day with great caution.

Chital are often in the company of Common Myna, Sambar and Grey Langurs. Chitals have a commensal relationship with the Common Myna, a common bird, who benefit from the insects disturbed by the browsing deer. The relationship with Sambar and Grey Langurs is more mutualistic, as all benefit from the extra vigilance and all react to alarm calls of the other species. Grey Langurs make good sentinels, perched on high vantage points, as they forage high in the trees and can spot predators earlier than the deer. Additionally Chital benefits from food dropped or dislodged by the foraging monkeys.

Chitals live in large and fluid groups. Chitals in India are hunted by fiercest terrestrial predators like the Bengal Tigers, Asiatic Lions, Leopards, Wolves, Indian Rock Pythons, Dholes, Mugger Crocodiles. Golden Jackals… They usually target juveniles - male Chitals are less vulnerable than females and juveniles.

The Golden Jackal is a wolf-like canid and the smallest gray wolf subspecies. Found in Gir National Park, it is both a predator and a scavenger. Being an omnivore they are opportunistic foragers with a diet that varies according to its habitat and the season. 

Its diet consist of rodents, hares, birds, reptiles and fruit. They feed intensively on the fruits of buckthorn, dogbane, java plum, and the pods of mesquite and the golden rain tree. 

Jackals can dig Indian Gerbils out from their burrows, and search for hiding blackbuck calves especially early morning and the late evening. The Jackal has been recorded to have scavenged off the kills made by the Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Dhole, and Gray Wolf. 

The Indian Jackal is similar to the Gray Wolf but is distinguished by its smaller size, shorter legs and tail, and a narrower and more pointed muzzle. The jackal's fur is coarse and the base color golden, varying seasonally from a pale creamy yellow to a dark tawny. The fur on the back is composed of a mixture of black, brown, and white hairs,  and the underparts are a light pale ginger to cream color. The buff color is more pronounced in species from high altitudes. How to reach Gir National Park?

A large ground bird Peacock flaunts its unmistakable iridescent plumage with its ornamental upper tail feathers - is displayed in a spectacular fan of brilliant colors when courting females. Peahens don't have long tail feathers, but have an iridescent green neck, and browner plumage.

Peacocks and Peahens are found in the forests of Gir National Park alertly feeding in the undergrowth. Indian blue peafowl are omnivorous. They consume seeds, fruits, flower buds, petals, grain, grass, bamboo shoots, insects, termites, lizards, frogs, small mammals and other small reptiles. Whilst they feed on small snakes they do keep their distance from larger ones. In the Gir forest of Gujarat, a large percentage of their food is made up of the fallen berries of Zizyphus. How to reach Gir National Park?

Their loud calls ‘pia-yow or may-yow’ make them easy to detect, and in forest areas their calls often indicate the presence of a predator such as a tiger. Their calls are heard incessantly during the rainy season as well as during the breeding season.

How to reach Gir National Park by air? Which is the nearest airport to Gir National Park?
Diu Airport is the nearest airport to Gir National Park and it is at a distance of about 71 km. Alternate options are - Gir National Park is at a distance of about 92 km from Junagadh airport. + Gir National Park is at a distance of about 162 km from Rajkot airport.

How to reach Gir National Park by train? Which is the nearest railway station to Gir National Park?
Railway station nearest to Gir National Park is its own >> Sasan Gir Railway Station. Alternate options are - Gir National Park is at a distance of about 78 km from Junagadh Junction. Gir National Park is at a distance of about 162 km from Rajkot Junction.

The best time to visit Gir National Park is from December to March as the climate is much cooler. Though really hot - April and May are the best months for wildlife viewing and photography. Gir National Park is closed from 16 June to 15 October every year (Updated as of July 2021 - do recheck before you travel).

The Common Buzzard is a medium-to-large bird of prey which is found in many parts of the world.

The Common Buzzard is an opportunistic predator that hunts a wide variety of prey, ranging from rabbits to bird eggs, juveniles and adult birds, reptiles, amphibians and various invertebrates (rarely fish), and insects - they are known to tackle any larger prey - which is either sick or wounded.

What do Common Buzzards look like? Buzzards are large birds of prey with sharp and hooked beak, sharp talons, broad rounded wings, and a short tail. They are typically brown in color with a light necklace beneath the breast and white undersides to the wings. Note the species’ appearance varies and the feathers are a mixture of dark brown, light brown, and white.

Buzzards build their own nest high in the trees (usually in strong forks of branches) or rocky cliffs - and line their nest with fresh green foliage and leaves. How to reach Gir National Park?

Eurasian Thick-knee also known as the Eurasian Stone-curlew is found at the Gir National Park in the state of Gujarat. It is an inconspicuous bird that is  easily overlooked because of it’s plain plumage - at the same time can be easily identified by it’s loud piping or wailing nocturnal calls. 

These are medium to large size, wading birds with a streaky brown plumage and big yellow eyes. They have a black or yellow black bills and are striking when in flight with their black and white wing pattern. Thick-knees are so called as they have prominent or large knee joints and long, yellow or greenish legs.

Nocturnal in nature Eurasian Thick-knees diet consist of terrestrial invertebrates, small vertebrates, insects and their larvae, like beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, ants + small mammals and lizards. How to reach Gir National Park?

The Asian Green Bee-eaters found at the Gir National Park are dainty, richly colored, slender birds. The entire plumage is intensely emerald green with a greenish-blue throat, and the crown and upper back are tinged with golden rufous + they have long central tail feathers. One can see the dark edge along the lower border of the wings when they are in flight. Juvenile Green Bee-eaters are duller than adults and lack the long tail feathers. 

Aptly named, Green Bee-eaters are known to fearlessly pluck bees and other flying insects out of the air with their strong, slightly curved beak. They kill their prey mid-air to avoid being stung - or they quickly smack the insect’s head on a branch to stun it, rub its rump on a surface to remove the stinger and flush out the toxins, as well as to break the exoskeleton before swallowing it whole. Whilst they predominantly eat bees they also feed on wasps, butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, ants, crickets, caterpillars, spiders… How to reach Gir National Park?

The calls - are long, repetitive, and rather pleasant whistling trills - trree-trree-trree - heard especially in the morning and towards the evening and usually given in flight for hunting.

The noisy Indian Paradise Flycatcher uttering harsh shreew calls, is found in many forests of India and also in the Gir National Park. How to reach Gir National Park?

Indian Paradise Flycatchers are usually found perched prominently on a lower branch with an upright posture. They communicate vocally using a variety of songs and calls and have a well-developed sense of sight, smell, taste, and hearing. 

Indian Paradise Flycatchers are insectivores - they make short aerial sallies after insects and hunt in flight, which they capture in the air, usually returning to the same perch. They have a notched beak that helps them catch insects. They can occasionally be seen gleaning (picking prey from the ground or leaves). (Sallying >> pouncing between tree branches and catching insects midair, also known as fly-catching)

Indian Paradise Flycatchers have a glossy black head and black bills - Females are rufous on the back with a greyish throat and underparts plus - females lack the male’s blue eye-ring. Young males look very much like females but have a black throat, blue-ringed eyes and short tails. They acquire long tails in their second or third year. The adult male sports a long ribbonlike tail with two central tail feathers growing in long drooping streamers. Adult males occur in two color morphs - they are either predominantly bright rufous above or predominantly white - with a black and rufous plumage (some populations are observed with white plumage).

Chestnut Shouldered Petronia or the Yellow-throated Sparrow is a tree-loving species with a hopping gait - this one was found at the Gir National Park, Gujarat India.

Chestnut Shouldered Petronia or the Yellow-throated Sparrow feeds mainly on grains but also on insects, nectar and berries. An unusual food item is the petals of flowers.

Yellow-throated Sparrow is a un-streaked sparrow, with two prominent white wingbars (sometimes missing). Gray-brown above, pale brown to whitish on underparts. Males have a pale yellow spot on the throat and the females have a reduced yellow spot which may be missing in many of them too. Juvenile resembles female. How to reach Gir National Park?

Blackbucks inhabit grassy plains and lightly forested parts of the Blackbuck National Park. These fleet-footed animals are herbivores and graze on low grasses in areas with perennial water sources.

Did you know - Blackbucks with pointed and delicate hooves are fast runners, and can outrun most predators… Blackbucks are extremely cautious as they lack strong sense of smell or hearing - but they have good eyesight thus can detect danger and react on time. 

The elegant Blackbucks or the Indian Antelopes are usually found in groups and are active mainly during the day - Blackbucks are social animals and the size of their group is directly dependent on availability of food and known to reduce in summer - Natural calamities have a drastic effect on the Blackbuck population as they get severely affected by floods and droughts and take a few years to recover. Blackbucks are herbivores and are known to feed apart from grass on fruits, flowers, herbs, shrubs…

Males are darker and heavier than the females and both of them have white under parts including the insides of the legs and a distinctive white fur on the chin and around the eyes. Coloration of Blackbucks depends on the gender, the back, the sides and the outer side of the legs are rich dark brown to black in males and yellowish fawn to tan in females and juveniles. The long, ringed horns, that resemble corkscrews, are present only on males, though females may develop horns, as well.

How to reach Blackbuck National Park by air? Which is the nearest airport to Blackbuck National Park, Gujarat, India?
Bhavnagar Airport is the nearest airport to Blackbuck National Park and it is at a distance of about 51 km.

How to reach Blackbuck National Park by train? Which is the nearest railway station to Blackbuck National Park, Gujarat, India?
Blackbuck National Park can be reached via Dhola Junction or Dhola Railway Station that is at ad istance of about 48 km from the park.

The best time to visit Blackbuck National Park, Gujarat, India is between October to February as the climate is much cooler. Many prefer the summer between April to June to catch mammals at water points.

The Nilgai which translates in to blue cow is neither a cow and nor is it exactly blue’. It is the largest Asian antelope and is found in good numbers in the Blackbuck National Park. Timid and cautious by nature Nilgai is diurnal basically active mainly during the day and is a social animal and is usually seen in groups.

The Nilgai's short coat is yellow-brown in females, and gradually turns blue-gray in males as they mature - only males have horns - There are patches of white on the face, below the chin and on the throat.

Nilgai are herbivorous and eat grass, herbs, leaves of small bushes or woody plants… The Nilgai can survive for long periods without water and do not drink regularly even in summer.

They have good eyesight and hearing but they do not have a good sense of smell. The Indian Tiger and Lion may prey on the Nilgai but they are not significant predators of this antelope. Leopards, Dholes, Wolves, Striped Hyenas prey on the Nilgai, though they prefer smaller prey and attack juveniles.

Usually quiet, Nilgai have been recorded to make short guttural grunts when alarmed - females make clicking noises when nursing young. Alarmed juveniles (less than 5 months), give out a coughing roar with a high pitch that can be heard by herds less than 500 metres away which respond similarly.

Alif Khan's Mosque at Dholka is an ancient monument that has suffered much damage - it has three towers with massive domes with doorways featuring large religious inscriptions.

Masjid’s rear wall has intricate jaalli work and the central room has a raised platform believed to deliver sermons - it is made of marble and remains intact - interesting acoustics as the voice even if soft resonates throughout the entire mosque from here.

Alif Khan's Mosque at Dholka is at distance of about 50 km from Ahmedabad Airport.

Sidi Bashir Mosque in the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India was destroyed in 1753 during the war between the Marathas and the Khan of Gujarat Sultanate and survives with only its central gateway and two minarets also known as the Jhulta Minars. A gentle shaking of either minaret results in the other minaret vibrating after a few seconds - the mechanism of this is not known till date. The style and material of the minarets suggest that it was built close of Mahmud Begada's rule that is 1511 or later. The minarets are three stories tall with carved balconies and are now located to the north of Ahmedabad Junction railway station.

Since ancient times, Gujarat is well known for its architectural heritage in constructing man-made water bodies striving to preserve and re-use water. There just too many of such examples of small and large such lakes and ponds in many villages and towns of Gujarat be it series of reservoirs revealing amazing systems of water harvesting in the ancient Dholavira (one of the five largest Harappan sites) or the Sudarshan lake of Junagadh, the Sahstraling lake of Patan and the Munsar lake of Viramgam...

The Munsar lake of Viramgam, built by the Solanki or Chaulukya queen Minal Devi in the early 11th century, is the largest man-made lake of Gujarat of its time. This lake is constructed in the form of a gomukh and once had more than 500+ shrines on its embankment steps. Only 300+ of these resilient temples stand today and most have either shrines of either Shiva or Vishnu.

Jami Masjid also known as Jama Masjid basically means ‘public mosque’ is a part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Jama Masjid in Champaner built over decades is well-known as one of the most distinguished monuments built by Sultan Mahmud Begada. The architectural style of Jama Masjid is a blend of Hindu and Muslim workmanship with connotations of Muslim ethos; Apart from intricate motifs and murals, the Jami Masjid also has minutely designed and exquisite lattice-stone work, jaali work and roof carvings.

Jami Masjid is considered to be one of finest mosques of Gujarat a gigantic structure of its times with two imposing minars on either side of the central entrance and elegant interiors. The Mosque has three entrance porches to courtyard and the eastern porch has the remarkable intricate stone filigree or jaali work. Even filigree work on the windows and the arches is exquisite.  You will find seven mihrabs or prayer niches in the main prayer hall.

The cenotaph at Jama masjid is a transcendent blend of Indo Islamic architecture where Hindu and Muslim artisans together delivered an ethereal monument with Islamic ethos. 

Jami Masjid or Jama Masjid is a part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jama Masjid an imposing ancient structure on a high plinth, with a central dome, soaring minarets, 172 pillars, seven mihrabs, carved latticed windows, and entrance gates with exquisite stone jalis. The masjid had many structures that had the engravings of hymns from the holy Quran.

It seems in ancient time local builders could build only square or rectangle building structures and they had to come up with an ingenious solution to fulfill Islamic requirement to build domes atop.

So they started from the ground up as a square or rectangle, that than becomes curved 8 sided arches further on top turn into a 16 sided panel that lastly converge into a 32 sided panel and finally atop is the required circular dome!

Jami Masjid or Jama Masjid is a part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jami Masjid or Jama Masjid is a part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by Sultan Mahmud Begada has distinctive carvings all over the mosque especially the ceiling, multiple prayer halls separated by its 172 pillars. Sultan Mahmud Begada built a separate prayer hall for the royals separated from the main area by stone jalis. One can find a Zenana enclosure orwomens enclosure for praying which is also separated off with a screen.

Kevada Mosque is part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is believed to be built during the time of Mahmud Begada.
The mosque has prayer hall, minarets, narrow stairs, many mihrabs and windows with pillared balcony all exquisitely decorated with intricate carvings.

Kevada Mosque has two minarets on both the sides of the central arched entrance that have eye-catching carved niches that are filled with geometrical and floral and patterns. Originally the mosque had three domes built above the double storeyed main prayer hall but the largest central dome has since collapsed. The complex also comprises of a well, tank for ablutions and a few ruined brick structures.The square cenotaph located in front of the mosque has fluted central dome and four corner domes.

Kevada Mosque is part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The distinguishing part of Kevada Masjid is the Cenotaph in front. Cenotaph is a tomb without the actual grave, built in honour of the person whose grave is elsewhere. There was also some excavation work happening on this site. Kevada Masjid is part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Nagina Mosque has three large domes constructed over the main prayer hall supported by decorative columns and windows. The cenotaph is located on north eastern side of the mosque and has openings on all cardinal directions. Façade as well as the columns and niches on the wall of the cenotaph are beautifully carved with floral and geometrical designs. A series of beautifully designed projecting corbels decorate the cornice, with geometric motifs at regular intervals. The dome of cenotaph is missing.

Nagina Mosque is a part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nagina Mosque also means 'Jewel Mosque' is a part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nagina Masjid was built in the 15th century during the time of Mahmud Begada and you will find similarity in architectures in many masjid built in the same period be it Kevada Masjid or Jama Masjid or Shahar Ki Masjid. All had beautifully and intricately decorated minarets, domes and prayer halls.

Nagina Masjid is a large mosque built on a high platform with large open space in front and artistically carved minarets on either side that had niches filled with floral and geometrical designs. Nagina Mosque is a part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Panch Mahuda Ki Masjid at Pavagadh Complex in Champaner, Gujarat, India is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also severely damaged and hopefully will get the required attention from Archaeological Survey of India soon.

Popular sights at the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park are Jami Masjid, Kevda Masjid and Cenotaph, Nagina Masjid and Cenotaph or trek towards a sunset at Navlakha Kothar located near the old Jain Temple on Pavagadh hill.

Sahar Ki Masjid is right near the ancient royal palace and was built for exclusive use of the Sultan's family. As the other mosques in Pavagadh Champaner complex the main entrance is an arched doorway with a large dome, with smaller domes at the four sides and minarets on either side. The royals had access to 5 mihrabs at Sahar ki Masjid also a part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sat manzil, a seven storeyed watchtower tumbles down a cliff-side - built in the 15th century as a strategic defense requisite as it is possible to view the entire expanse below from this vantage point. Its arches were made with yellow sandstone with an interlocking mechanism to bound them together. Its arches also look like bows hence also referred to as Sat Kaman - and literally the words mean means seven arches - I am sure you have seen a picture of the same as it is supposedly most photogenic and most photographed of all structures in the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site..

Lila Gumbaj Mosque in Champaner, Gujarat state, western India is part of the Champaner Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lila Gumbaj Ki Masjid is built on a high plinth with an arched central entrance flanked by two lateral arches. Minarets are designed with horizontal cornices and decorated niches. You will find three mihrabs in the prayer hall embellished with floral motifs. It has three domes and the central dome is fluted and was originally colored.

How to reach Champaner by flight?
The nearest domestic airport to Champaner is Vadodara Airport which is at a distance of about 44 km from Champaner.

The nearest international airport to Champaner is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad which is at a distance of about 153 km from Champaner. Ahmedabad airport is well connected with major cities of India and the world.

How to reach Champaner by train?
Champaner Road Junction is connected to Vadodara and Mumbai

Distance between Champaner and other towns and cities
Champaner is at a distance of about 44 km from Baroda.
Champaner is at a distance of about 153 km from Champaner.

Note The Champaner-Pavagadh archaeological site is fairly large about 1329 hectares so it is recommended to rent a car and driver from Baroda.

The Jain temples of Pavagadh belong to the Digamber sect of Jainism and are divided into three groups. The Bhavanaderi temples found near the Naqqarkhana gate, than the temples dedicated to the Tirthankar Suparsva and Tirthankar Chandraprabha and lastly the the Parsvanath temple located near Dudhiya Talao where Bhagwan Parshvanath is seated in padmasana posture. Temples walls are covered with Jain iconography.

Apart from the well known temples there are many other Jain temples too near Makai Kothar and Navlakha Kothar. The Jain temples dedicated to Tirthankar Suparsavanath, Tirthankar Chandraprabha and Parsavnath Bhagwan and have been dated to the 13th-14th Century AD.

How to reach Pavagadh by flight?
The nearest domestic airport to Pavagadh is Baroda Airport which is at a distance of about 50 km from Pavagadh.

The nearest international airport to Pavagadh is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad which is at a distance of about 152 km from Pavagadh. Ahmedabad airport is well connected with major cities of India and the world.

How to reach Pavagadh by train?
Pavagadh does not have a train station, and the nearest station is Champaner Road Junction, at a distance of 6.5 km

Distance between Pavagadh Hills and other towns and cities
Pavagadh is at a distance of about 55 km from Baroda.
Pavagadh is at a distance of about 7 km from Champaner.

Note: You have two options to take the pilgrim route and climb about 1800/2000+ steps or take a shuttle van from the Champaner Citadel’s south wall which drops you only mid-way. You could also take a ropeway and glide over the landscape at a price and save yourself half the climb.

Munsar lake is located in Viramgam is a town near Ahmedabad, Gujarat also an ancient princely state.

How to reach Viramgam by flight?
The nearest airport to Viramgam is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad which is at a distance of about 76 km from Viramgam. Ahmedabad airport is well connected with major cities of India and the world.

How to reach Viramgam by train?
Viramgam Junction is well connected to other major cities of India via regular trains.

Mount Girnar near Junagadh in Gujarat is supposedly older than the Himalayas. Thousands of steps to climb for redemption at the ancient Jain temples on top of Girnar which has been a sacred site for Jains since the 3rd century and the temples are sacred to both Digambar and Shwetambar Jains. The Neminath temple is the largest and was rebuilt in 1129. How to reach Girnar? 

How to reach Girnar by air?
Girnar is at a distance of about 5 km from Junagadh city, about 40 km from Keshod airport and at a distance of about 100 km from Rajkot Airport. The nearest international airport to Girnar is Ahmedabad at a distance of about 331 km.

Junagadh city is well connected by trains with major cities in Gujarat and India.

Jama Masjid was built using yellow sandstone during the reign of Ahmed Shah. An inscription on the mihrab commemorates the inauguration of the mosque on 4 January 1424 by Sultan Ahmed Shah I.

The mosque is located just outside Bhadra Fort area and legend suggests that the the mosque was originally intended only for private use of the sultans.

The Jama Masjid of Ahmedabad may have been the largest mosque in the Indian subcontinent built in the 15th century.

Rani Rupamati's or Rupavati's Mosque built by Mahmud Begada in the 15th century is a medieval mosque and tomb complex located in Ahmedabad.

With a soaring central arch, three imposing domes supported with rows of twelve pillars each, though cracked at the base in the 1819 Rann of Kutch earthquake, the minarets are still exquisite... Add to that carved galleries and an intricate mihrab - as reasons to visit Rani Rupamati's Mosque in person.

Bhadra Fort is an impressive monument spanning over 43 acres. It was built by Ahmed Shah and is located near the eastern banks of Sabarmati River. Bhadra Fort was used as a royal court during Ahmed Shah’s rule.

Named Bhadra Fort due to the presence of the revered Bhadrakali temple - and has an interesting local legend attached to the monument. Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi came to the gate of Bhadra Fort to leave the city in the night. And the night kotwal (watchman) Siddique Kotwal stopped her having identified her told her she cannot leave the fort till he gets permission from the king and if she does he will get into trouble. To prevent her from leaving Ahmedabad he beheads himself thus ensuring that Goddess Lakshmi forever stays in the city resulting into its prosperity. There is a tomb near Bhadra Gate dedicated to Siddique Kotwal and a temple to Bhadra Kali, representing Laxmi.

Add the following sights when you visit Bhadra Fort - Rani Rupmati Mosque and Hathee Singh Jain Temple.